Ensuring that Windows 7 remains secure remains one of the top challenges for the year ahead according to those fighting hackers on the front-line.
Web and email filtering specialist Websense has listed its top areas to watch out for next year with an expectation there will be more targeted attacks against Microsoft applications.
There is also a prediction that email, which has been overtaken by the web as the main route for attacks, will again become the main platform used to spread malicious Trojans and dodgy attachments.
Websense also predicts Macs will be hit by more exploits and smart phones will be in the firing line as iPhones and Android handsets are used to handle more business data.
“The blended nature of today’s threats mandates that a core understanding of the web must pervade all security measures – and that email, web and data awareness must be integrated to protect organisations information and networks,” said Devin Redmond, vice president of business development and product management at Websense.
Late last month in a briefing with MicroScope covering the year from a security perspective Ollo-Pekka Nieme, vulnerability expert at Stonesoft, said that Windows 7 had already become a target and shot to the top of the agenda.
“In the last two months there have been five critical vulnerabilities in Vista, Windows 7 and Server 2008 even with the new code base Microsoft is suffering these critical code-led vulnerabilities,” he said.